1.4W mono into 4Ω — Class AB in a 1.52 mm CSP
The MAX9718CEBL-T is a 1-Channel (Mono) Class AB audio power amplifier delivering 1.4W into a 4Ω load from a 2.7V to 5.5V supply. That output power drives a small speaker to useful SPL in a portable device — think handheld radios, intercoms, or battery-powered alarms where a headphone jack is not enough and a full Class D converter is overkill. The supply range spans a single Li-ion cell (3.0-4.2V nominal) through 3.3V and 5V regulated rails, so the same BOM position works across multiple product tiers without a supply redesign.
9-UCSP footprint — board-level integration
Housed in a 9-WFBGA, CSPBGA package (Maxim's 9-UCSP, 1.52x1.52 mm), the die is effectively the package. The 0.5 mm ball pitch demands a controlled solder-paste stencil and a reflow profile matched to the 0.30 mm ball diameter — standard for mobile-handset assembly lines but a step up for a lab prototype hand-solder station. Operating from -40°C to +85°C, the part suits industrial ambient environments — not just the 0-70°C consumer band. A portable instrument that sits in a hot warehouse or a cold loading bay stays within the rated junction temperature.
Active but RoHS non-compliant — procurement reality
The RoHS non-compliant flag is the critical catch: this part contains lead (Pb) above the 0.1% threshold and cannot ship into EU RoHS-regulated markets without an exemption. For designs outside RoHS jurisdiction — military, aerospace, industrial equipment in regions without RoHS enforcement — the active status is an advantage. For a new EU consumer product, this part is a non-starter.